Commuting to work by bike

going to work? you're definitely picking some weird routes to get there 😁

I’m looking at about 10 minutes each way...
Fortunately, I don't sweat too much, though I still make sure to ride in athletic gear. It usually takes me between 28 and 35 minutes depending on how the traffic lights treat me.

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lonerider10 said:So, you're heading to work? Man, if that’s the case, then you're definitely picking some seriously weird routes just to get to the office. 😁

There’s some construction going on nearby, so I figured I’d head over to see how things were moving along... honestly, it just made me start reminiscing about the old days when I used to pass by Central Park every single day. I remember looking for my buddy so we could grab a quick coffee before the shift started, but he was always tied up, so I’d just head back to my small town, grab a cup there, and then finally get myself to work. 😁

My daily commute: 2x12 miles. I’ve only actually ridden it a handful of times, mostly just sitting at red lights: about 50 minutes of actual pedaling, an hour total one way. Given how much I end up sweating, high-end gear isn't optional. A Deere & Company backpack actually helps keep the sweat from pooling on my back.

If you're driving a route that only takes an hour and a half, why even bother getting worked up? 😁

Bryan Evans77 said:A few years back I was dealing with maybe 10-6.8 miles..
thank God I don't have to deal with that 😁

My job doesn't have a dress code (besides jeans and a tee), so I just rock some Tomfords and show up looking fine, not soaked like a pig 😁
but honestly, I could pull off a suit, no problem... 🙂

The only thing is, I'd probably rip my clothes on a fence instantly 😁

unless you buy some cheap plastic crap made in China 😬

I mix it up. On days I've got meetings, I take the commuter train, and if I can get away with wearing different pants plus a blazer, I will. 7.5 miles One way at least. I just stuff the blazer loosely in my backpack, so it doesn't wrinkle.

But whatever, you don't even sweat in the morning since it's cool out, and when I head home? Raiders? 😁

John Ward98 said:but honestly, you don't sweat in the morning because it's actually crisp out—it's more when I'm heading home, hukers? 😁

Is it "hu kers" or "hukers"? Just making sure—asking because I can't tell if it's one or the other 😂

wearyotter36 said:Was that "hu kers" or "hukers"? I'm pretty sure it was the first one—just making sure before I commit to an opinion.😂

😂😂😂😂😂🤣

dirty minds think alike 😁

Hmm. I suppose I have been somewhat fortunate in my circumstances.
In truth, it is merely a five, 3.4 miles minute commute to the office.
There isn't any strict dress code enforced at my workplace, so I have found myself quite comfortable wearing khakis for quite some time now.
Once I arrive at the office, I simply splash some water on my face and consider the matter settled. (Though, I must admit, my trek to work isn't exactly a leisurely stroll. 😁)
It typically averages about ten to twelve minutes, though that fluctuates depending on the traffic lights—or rather, how many people are standing around waiting for them to change.

Hey there

Quick question for you guys—how long do you think it’ll take me to get to work if I upgrade to a decent road bike? The route is 14 miles. It’s basically out in the sticks, so the roads are in great shape, no traffic lights or anything annoying like that. There’s just one decent little hill, but otherwise, it’s mostly flat or just very gentle inclines. I’m not planning on doing some casual Sunday cruise; I mean how fast can I actually push myself before I collapse...

Do you think hitting that stretch in 40 minutes at a really aggressive pace is even doable?

I mean, if you're cruising at 20 mph, you might be able to... 😬
The math is easy enough...

But the other stuff? Not so much.
1. The elevation gain on that hill alone
2. Your actual fitness level
3. How you feel climbing with a heavy pack (don't forget, those grades hit way harder than a mountain bike; you can't just rely on momentum when you're grinding uphill)
4. Why even use a heavy pack? A decent hybrid cyclist or someone with some serious leg strength could handle it... they just need the stamina🙂

Sean Gray24 said:Hi

Quick question: how long would a commute take on a decent road bike? The route is 14 miles. It's rural, good pavement, no traffic lights or anything—just one decent hill, otherwise mostly flat or light climbs. I wouldn't be riding a touring bike; I'm wondering how much I could push myself on foot versus a bike...

Is a 40-minute sprint realistic?

It depends on the traffic volume.

I don't use the main roads; I stick to pedestrian paths. Between the stoplights and a major intersection, my route from 2.5 miles takes me 25 minutes at a fast clip, or 35 if I hit red lights... And that's an older guy. If I were on a bike, that same distance would probably take me two hours. 😬

If you have a solid bike and low traffic, I’d estimate about an hour and 15 minutes.
Just my guess.

Are you just starting out with cycling?
🙂

I used to mess around on bikes back in the day, but they were all cheap junk that fell apart in a week, haha. Honestly, I think 22 miles/h could probably handle most of my commute without breaking a sweat. I live out in a rural area, but work is in a slightly larger town nearby. The road isn't slammed with traffic, but it's a fast state highway, and since there aren't many sidewalks, I’ll likely be riding right on the shoulder the whole way. There’s this one hill—maybe a 200m climb—but it’s nothing crazy steep, though it's hard to tell the exact elevation change from here. Right now, I'm just hitting the stationary bike for half an hour every day. It gets the job done, but I can't spend more time on it because, frankly, it's boring as hell. Anyway, I'm just saving up and waiting for some fall or winter sales to snag a good deal. We have plenty of easy forest trails around here, so I'm leaning towards a cyclocross setup... I can always swap in road tires if I need to, right? My only real worry is that I've never ridden one of those before, so I'm not sure if the body position will feel weird, but I'll test one out before I pull the trigger. That's about it.

I've been lurking on this sub for a while now, so I'll check back in once I actually make a decision.

Start with 50 to 60 minutes.
Maybe you can shave it down to 35 eventually.
The big question mark is how much of this route is actually uphill—since more climbing means more time lost.
So, any estimate right now is pretty rough—and honestly, probably way off.

Look at it this way 😁
If he’s hitting /h 27 miles, he’d need to maintain an average speed of roughly 25 miles/h just to make that route in 35 minutes... which isn't quite right if we're looking at a 30-minute window.

Given those 14 miles miles, I’d say you’re looking at a minimum of 50 minutes, assuming you're actually in decent shape. Honestly, it’s probably going to be a struggle, because:
- On stretches like that, the wind is always a factor on the open road. Sometimes it gives you a push, sometimes it fights you, but once you start pushing north of 30 mph, that wind becomes a massive variable that can really mess with your rhythm.
- You’re also going to lose a significant chunk of your average speed during that first mile leaving the house and the final mile pulling up to the office... unfortunately.

Sean Gray24 said:Hey there,

I have a quick question. How long do you think it would take me to get to work if I used a decent road bike? The route is 14 miles. The roads are in pretty good shape—it’s basically out in the countryside, so there aren't any traffic lights or anything like that. There's just one slightly larger hill, but otherwise, it's mostly flat or very gentle inclines. I wouldn't be riding it like a casual tourist; I'd just go as fast as my legs could handle...

Do you think hitting it in 40 minutes at a really fast pace is doable?

Well, since tomorrow is Saturday, maybe you should just hop on the bike and time yourself instead of asking us to guess based on a coffee stain and your avatar.😉

I'll be looking for an update here tomorrow!